For Max Olsen (1930-2020)** Thou, Lord, who groaned in agonyWhen darkness ruled GethsemaneAnd daylight mocked on Calvary,Whose perfect gift has…

These thoughts are primarily for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who generally understand what we…

The presence of doubt does not require the absence of faith, only faith’s imperfection. We mortals typically act in faith despite our doubt, not because we have no doubt. If we doubted less, perhaps we would need less faith.

I’ve been thinking a lot about music during this Christmas season. Bits of text more than whole songs have had me pondering. I’ve long appreciated Christmas hymns which celebrate but also look beyond the (mostly) sweet story of the Savior’s birth.

When we truly welcome others into our towns and neighborhoods – and homes, hearts, and circles of friends – we’re not just being nice. We’re obeying two key commandments. Both are literally as old as Moses.

Four immeasurable gifts give meaning and permanence to all other good things in our lives. They open our eyes to the great human and natural beauty which surrounds us. They steady us when we stumble and lift us when we fall. … They bear sure witness of a time beyond time, when all that is good will continue, and all that is not will fall away.

Lorenzo Snow: “To become as God would wish us, we must accustom our minds to rejoice in seeing others prospered as ourselves; rejoice in seeing the cause of Zion exalted by whatsoever hands Providence may order; and have our bosoms closed against the entrance of envy when a weaker instrument than ourselves is called to greater honor; be content in magnifying a lesser office till called to a higher; be satisfied in doing small things and not claim the honor of doing great ones.”

What if today is for thanking a deity who put me in a place and time in which I have food to eat and work to do, some freedom to enjoy as I’m doing it, some faithful friends around me, and a comfortable place to lay my head?

Our light is Christ. He didn’t circle the metaphorical wagons. He was famous for eating with publicans and sinners, for blessing the leper and the adulteress in their shame. He even defended such souls against the official wagon-circlers of his day. He told the elders and chief priests, “The publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).

The thing about actual predawn darkness is that you know it’s about to end. Dawn comes like clockwork. The troubles which darken our minds and hearts are less predictable. Sometimes the light seems so faint and distant that we wonder if it’s a mirage. Sometimes we cannot see it at all, and we are left to walk by faith alone – and to wonder whether we still have, or ever had, any of that.

Peter said that the Savior “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). What if he had said something slightly different: “he…

Context (or Chatter) I spend more time writing than reading, these days — too little of both — and I…

How much of what I hear in conference — or in other church meetings, or read in the official writings of Church leaders — am I required to obey, as a committed Latter-day Saint? Am I permitted to employ my own reason and inspiration to choose the counsel which applies to me, adapt it to my circumstances, and ignore the rest, or is that too much like selective obedience, which is a lot like disobedience? How nearly does counsel given by church leaders approach the status of scripture? Is counsel the same as commandment?

Every church or religion has its own vocabulary, which can easily make its meetings seem strange to outsiders. Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are no exception. We even think friendship is a verb; the ripples from this barbarous pebble are sometimes conspicuous. It’s a good thing the Lord is merciful. He gives us excellent, beautiful languages, and we insist on . . . But I digress.

If you spend any time in church-related settings with Mormons — members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — it won’t be long before you hear the words, “I know the Church is true.” What do we mean when we say our Church is true? What don’t we mean? Should you be offended, if you’re not a Mormon?

This week’s reading is John 2-4. Jesus attends a wedding at Cana in Galilee, goes briefly to Capernaum, then heads south to Jerusalem for Passover, after which he preaches in Judea and briefly in Samaria on his way back to Galilee to preach.

This week’s readings are Matthew 4 and Luke 4 and 5. They include Jesus’ temptations in the desert and his early preaching and miracles in Galilee, and Peter walking on the water.

This week’s readings are Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3. John the Baptist preaches, baptizes Jesus, and is cast into prison. Jesus begins to preach in Galilee; calls Simon Peter, James, and John to follow him; and heals many including Simon Peter’s wife.

This week’s reading is John 1. John speaks of the Word made flesh, answers the Pharisees’ questions about his own identity, and baptizes Jesus. Jesus invites Philip to follow him and praises Nathanael as a guileless Israelite.

This week’s readings are Luke 2 and Matthew 2, which recount the birth of Jesus, the visits of the shephers and the wise men, Herod’s slaughter of the innocents, and the holy family’s flight to Egypt and eventual return to Nazareth.

Mary speaks of prophecy and God’s power and mercy, of the House of Israel and of divine promises to Father Abraham. She celebrates God’s exaltation of the humble and poor, and rejoices, “He hath filled the hungry with good things.

A person whose heart and mind — today, on a given topic — are thorny ground may be excellent soil on another topic or on another day. In some cases that day may be far in the future, but God is patient, and we can be patient too.

I recently baked some fresh Alaska salmon. It practically melted in my mouth. I almost didn’t need teeth. But I…

In 1 Nephi 1 Lehi’s experience resembles Joseph Smith’s later experience with visions and the gold plates (see Joseph Smith…

Sometimes, when reading the Revelation of John, we come across gems which don’t require us to decode a lot of…

Paul tells King Agrippa what he did at Jerusalem and elsewhere: “Many of the saints did I shut up in…

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple . . . And a certain man lame from his…